Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH04063’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘KLEPH04063’, characterized by its semi-trailing to cascading plant habit; freely branching growth habit; numerous double flowers that are violet in color with dark purple-colored venation; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KLEPH04063’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘KLEPH04063’.

The new Petunia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely branching Petunias with trailing plant habit and double flowers with attractive flower coloration.

The new Petunia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2001 of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number J 103, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number T 142, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia was selected as a single plant from the resulting progeny of the stated cross-pollination in May, 2002 in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttings since June, 2002, in Stuttgart, Germany has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar KLEPH04063 have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KLEPH04063’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KLEPH04063’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Semi-trailing to cascading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Numerous double flowers that are violet in color with dark         purple-colored venation.     -   4. Good garden performance.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more cascading than and not as         upright as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had double flowers whereas plants         of the female parent selection had single flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and the female parent selection         differed in flower color.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia had double flowers whereas plants         of the male parent selection had single flowers.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differed in flower color.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the cultivar Kirimaji Double Purple, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,283. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of the cultivar Kirimaji Double Purple in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more upright and not as         trailing as plants of the cultivar Kirimaji Double Purple.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the cultivar Kirimaji Double         Purple differed in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘KLEPH04063’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used the aforementioned photographs and following description were grown in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were about five months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 18° C. and light levels were about 20,000 lux.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar ‘KLEPH04063’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida             identified as code number J 103, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida             identified as code number T 142, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at 20° C. to             26° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 days at 20° C.         -   Time to develop roots, summer.—About 21 days at 20° C. to             26° C.         -   Time to develop roots, winter.—About 25 days at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form/habit.—Annual flowering plant; indeterminate; initially             upright, then semi-trailing to cascading; uniformly mounded             plant form. Freely branching habit with about seven lateral             branches and numerous secondary and tertiary lateral             branches per plant. Pinching enhances development of lateral             branches. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 21 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 50 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 26 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Internode length: About 4.5 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             137C.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 3 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Broadly elliptic.             Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: 137A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: 137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 147A.             Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper             surface: 146D. Venation, lower surface: 145A. Petiole             length: About 2 mm to 8 mm. Petiole diameter: About 3 mm.             Petiole texture, upper surface: Sparsely pubescent. Petiole             texture, lower surface: Smooth. Petiole color, upper and             lower surfaces: 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Double flowers; flowers face mostly             outwardly; axillary. Freely flowering habit, about 13 to 19             flower buds and open flowers per lateral branch.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, spring until frost in the autumn;             flowering continuous during this period. Flowers persistent.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About one week.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 5.5 cm. Tube length: About             2.2 cm. Throat diameter, distal end: About 1.4 cm. Tube             diameter, proximal end: About 4 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 cm.             Shape: Oblong. Color: 79C.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About eight to twelve petals             arranged in a rosette. Length from throat: About 2.2 cm to             2.8 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Roughly fan-shaped to             obovate. Apex: Broadly acute with central points. Margin:             Slightly crenate; undulate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening,             upper surface: 88C; venation, 79A. When opening, lower             surface: 88D; venation, 79B. Fully opened, upper surface:             88B; venation, 79A; color becoming closer to 89C and             venation, 103A, with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: 88D; venation, 79B. Flower throat (inside): 79A;             venation, 79A. Flower tube (outside): 79A; venation, 79A.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals             fused at base, star-shaped. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width:             About 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to elliptic. Apex: Obtuse.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Pubescent. Color, upper surface: 138A. Color, lower surface:             138B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Angle:             Erect to about 60° from the stem. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About             three. Anther shape: Roughly elliptic. Anther length: About             3 mm. Anther color: 2C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: 2B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 6 mm. Style length: About 4 mm. Style color: 150A.             Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: 149A. Ovary color: 150A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and/or fruit production has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance. Plants of the new Petunia have been     noted to tolerate temperatures from 2° C. to 45° C. and have     excellent tolerance to rain and wind. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH04063’, as illustrated and described. 